Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:15 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. A cleaner earning $40,000 a year with two children will lose more than $5,000 a year because of this Prime Minister's unfair budget. On top of this, cleaners around Australia will lose thousands of dollars because the Prime Minister is scrapping the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines. Can the Prime Minister explain to the hardworking cleaners of Australia why this is fair?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:16 pm
The assertions in the Leader of the Opposition's question are simply untrue. They are simply false. The assertions claimed by the Leader of the Opposition are simply untrue. He can chatter away across the dispatch box, but all of the talk—
Mr Shorten interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question and will desist.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
All of the interjections from the Leader of the Opposition, who just cannot control himself sitting there, do not make his assertions true. No cleaner can be paid at other than the award or above. That is the simple truth. No cleaner in this country can be paid at other than the award or above. That is the truth, and nothing that this government has said changes that.
Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order on relevance. I did not ask the Prime Minister about the award. I was just quoting his own budget back at him and how it takes money from cleaners.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. There is no point of order. I call the honourable member for Fairfax.